WWE: Should TNA Let Ric Flair Appear at the Hall of Fame?

One thing seems clear: TNA was completely blindsided by rival WWE's announcement on Monday Night RAW that they were inducting the Four Horseman, including current TNA star Ric Flair, into their Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place during WrestleMania weekend in Miami.

Indeed, shortly after the announcement, it was noted by Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that TNA had no clue this was happening, and WWE made the call without asking them:

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Based on the chronology of events the way it was explained to us, HHH called Ric Flair on 1/9, before it aired. Flair was at the TNA tapings working. HHH told him they were inducting the Horsemen and it would be announced later in the night. It doesn’t appear the key people in TNA were aware of it until it aired on television.

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TNA president Dixie Carter has not publicly commented on the matter. Nor has anyone else in TNA management. They may still be reeling from the announcement and trying to work out how they're going to respond.

For his part, there is footage of Flair taken at an autograph signing in the past few days promising he will be at the ceremony and on stage. No word on whether he's actually asked his employers about this, but knowing Flair he probably didn't and is determined to go whether they like it or not.

So WWE wants him to attend the ceremony, the fans want him there and Flair clearly wants to go, but the important question is: Should TNA let him go?

It's certainly not an easy decision by any means, and TNA is in a difficult position. There are several factors to consider here.

Firstly, having WWE bypass them totally and not even ask their opinion on this decision makes them look minor league. Indeed, rather than being threatened by their competitors, they seem to view them as a walkover (going by TNA's pathetic buy-rates, stagnant ratings and laughable on-screen product, they may not be wrong here).

Additionally, Flair being so anxious to free himself of the shackles of TNA and return to the bright lights of WWE, even if it is just for one night only, is also mildly embarrassing.

There's also the fact that while TNA would contractually be in the right in ordering Flair not to go, he is under contract to them, after all, by now allowing him to attend the ceremony they will look petty, mean and insecure—you know, all the things they've accused Vince McMahon and WWE of being over the years.

Indeed, TNA have often attempted to market themselves as a more relaxed, less corporate company than WWE, and to maintain that image they almost have to let Flair go. Otherwise their image will be permanently blemished.

Refusing to allow Flair permission to go would also cause problems between “The Nature Boy” and TNA. The two have had well-publicized issues in the past, with Flair even walking out of the company last year over a pay dispute. Things are not exactly going smoothy between the two parties, and this incident will not help matters.

In this instance, a determined Flair wants to go and will not take being told that he can't appear well. More embarrassingly, Flair could simply ignore their protests and go to the show anyway, making TNA look foolish and like a company who cannot control their rowdy employees.

Another thing to consider is that while Flair is under contract to another organization, WWE are still advertising Flair for the HOF and using his name to sell tickets. Unless WWE have agreed to pay TNA some residuals or some sort of compensation, this is deeply unfair to TNA. Or possibly a deal in which WWE can pay their competitor a share of the live gate may be best for all involved.

Summarily, TNA would be legally well within their rights to inform Flair he cannot go to the Hall of Fame ceremony, but it would be a decision that would have them be ravaged by fans and critics. Of course, if he is allowed to go, they end up looking like pushovers.

Vince must be sniggering to himself right now: He has put his rivals in quite the pickle.